Lord Blunkett

Tackling Child Poverty: Developing Our Strategy sets out the approach to building expertise into the child poverty strategy from across and outside Government.

This includes: engagement directly with the Child Poverty Ministerial Taskforce across the Strategy’s four core themes; working with leading organisations, charities and campaigners with child poverty expertise, such as Save the Children, IPPR, Citizens Advice, Child Poverty Action Group, Barnardo’s, and the National Children’s Bureau, who are bringing together their networks through roundtables or other forums to discuss the drivers and experience of child poverty, and what action is needed to reduce it; and work to hear directly from parents, carers and children.

This engagement is in addition to the large existing evidence base on child poverty in the UK and internationally, which the Taskforce is building understanding from.

As set out in the October publication referenced above, organisations and individuals are also welcome to submit specific evidence to childpoverty.secretariat@cabinetoffice.gov.uk.

The panel will be chaired by the First Civil Service Commissioner Baroness Gisela Stuart. The Chair must ensure compliance with the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles.

The panel is composed of independent members who possess both Civil Service experience and expertise from outside the Civil Service. They are responsible for selecting the most qualified and suitable candidate for the position.

The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.

Please see the letter attached from the National Statistician and Chief Executive of the UK Statistics Authority.

The Rt Hon. the Lord Blunkett

House of Lords

London

SW1A 0PW

14 October 2024

Dear Lord Blunkett,

As National Statistician and Chief Executive of the UK Statistics Authority, I am responding to your Parliamentary Question asking how many times since the 2021 Census the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has (1) varied a published official statistic, (2) reverted a statistic to “development stage", and (3) downgraded a forecast; and how often the ONS has published data since April 2021 on (a) quarterly economic growth, and (b) migration statistics (HL1172).

Changes or updates to published official statistics are sometimes required for various reasons. We use different terminology depending on the reason for the change or update. These terms are “correction of errors” and “revisions”.

Despite having quality control measures in place, mistakes may be found in our statistics. Correction of errors are amendments that are made to published statistics in response to the identification of mistakes following their initial publication. Since the 2021 Census (21 March 2021), we have published 3,763 statistical releases1 and made 577 corrections; however, the vast majority (553, or 96%) of these corrections were for minor errors which did not materially affect the interpretation or use of the statistics. The table below shows the breakdown by calendar year:

Revisions are updates to previously published statistics that improve quality by incorporating improved methods, additional data sources or statistics that were unavailable at the point of initial publication. Revisions should not be confused with the correction of errors; revisions are not published to correct a mistake. We do not hold the number of revisions made to official statistics in one centralised source, as these are a standard part of our process. Our Revisions and Corrections policies2 expand on the difference in more detail.

Accredited official statistics are a sub-set of official statistics that have been independently reviewed by the Office for Statistics Regulation and confirmed as complying with the standards of trustworthiness, quality and value in the Code of Practice for Statistics.

Official statistics in development are official statistics that are undergoing a development; they may be new or existing statistics, and will be tested with users, in line with the standards of trustworthiness, quality, and value in the Code of Practice for Statistics. The designation does not mean that the statistics are of poor quality and even though the statistics are going through development and testing, we are confident that they are useful.

Since 21 March 2021 there have been three instances where accredited official statistics have changed to “official statistics in development”. These are Employment in the UK (14 November 2023, Correspondence3), Gender identity, England and Wales: Census 2021 (12 September 2024, Correspondence4), and Annual Population Survey estimates (9 October 2024, Correspondence5).

We do not hold data on non-accredited official statistics that have become "official statistics in development".

There are also a small number of ONS outputs that have reverted from “accredited official statistics” to “official statistics” status, but these are not “official statistics in development”. In most cases the change in designation is at the request of the producer to signal to users that the statistics no longer comply fully with the standards in the Code of Practice for Statistics. The Office for Statistics Regulation maintains a list6 of all accredited official statistics that have been de-designated.

The ONS does not make forecasts, estimates or predictions about future events or trends.

Since April 2021, the ONS has released the latest data on quarterly economic growth on a quarterly basis in 28 publications of the GDP first quarterly estimate and GDP quarterly national accounts. Over the same period the ONS has published long-term international migration statistics on a bi-annual basis, six times in total. These releases contain revisions to improve the quality and reduce the uncertainty of previously published estimates by using more up to date data, in line with international best practice standards.

The ONS has published a range of further analysis and commentary on both topics, but those publications are based on previously published data first made available via the releases outlined above.

Yours sincerely,

Professor Sir Ian Diamond

1Including statistical bulletins, analytical articles, methodology papers and data tables.

2https://www.ons.gov.uk/methodology/methodologytopicsandstatisticalconcepts/revisions/guidetostatisTicalrevisions

3Exchange of letters between Ed Humpherson (OSR) and Alex Lambert and Darren Morgan (ONS) -

Office for National Statistics

4ONS letter to the OSR on Census 2021 gender identity estimates - Office for National Statistics

5Michael Keoghan to Siobhan Tuohy-Smith: Request to suspend APS accreditation – Office for

Statistics Regulation (statisticsauthority.gov.uk)

6https://osr.statisticsauthority.gov.uk/our-regulatory-work/assessment/cancelled-or-suspended-accreditations/

There are currently 63 living recipients of the Companion of Honour. Information is only held on 41 living recipients. Honours data is routinely destroyed by the Cabinet Office in accordance with our data retention policy for honours and not all the nominations were processed by the Cabinet Office, therefore we do not hold all of the information requested.

Data is collected using the region that the recipient gave as their correspondence address when the honour was originally awarded; this is usually their home address and does not necessarily reflect their area of origin. This data was gathered at the time that the awards were made and therefore the data for each recipient may not be current.

Statistical information held in relation to the regional breakdown of recipients at all levels for the King’s Birthday Honours List 2024 can be found below. Percentages are rounded to 1 decimal point. Data for CBE and higher levels has been aggregated and is also included below. Data reflects the correspondence address provided by recipients. Transparency data containing the location of recipients is published on gov.uk.

Data is collected using county and aggregated into regional figures. Information on the number of nominations by mayoral region in South Yorkshire is not captured, as we are unable to break down the data in that way.

This data relates only to the main Prime Minister’s List and does not include data from the Defence List or the Overseas and International List, which are not administered by the Cabinet Office.

Transparency data for the list by county, the level of award received and the service for which each recipient has been recognised for, as well as information on recipients recognised in previous honours lists is publicly available on gov.uk.

Honours are awarded on merit basis. A key aim of the honours system is to ensure that it is more representative of the country as a whole and we will continue to encourage more nominations from every corner of the UK, including South Yorkshire, in future honours lists.

There are currently 63 living recipients of the Companion of Honour. Information is only held on 41 living recipients. Honours data is routinely destroyed by the Cabinet Office in accordance with our data retention policy for honours and not all the nominations were processed by the Cabinet Office, therefore we do not hold all of the information requested.

Data is collected using the region that the recipient gave as their correspondence address when the honour was originally awarded; this is usually their home address and does not necessarily reflect their area of origin. This data was gathered at the time that the awards were made and therefore the data for each recipient may not be current.

Statistical information held in relation to the regional breakdown of recipients at all levels for the King’s Birthday Honours List 2024 can be found below. Percentages are rounded to 1 decimal point. Data for CBE and higher levels has been aggregated and is also included below. Data reflects the correspondence address provided by recipients. Transparency data containing the location of recipients is published on gov.uk.

Data is collected using county and aggregated into regional figures. Information on the number of nominations by mayoral region in South Yorkshire is not captured, as we are unable to break down the data in that way.

This data relates only to the main Prime Minister’s List and does not include data from the Defence List or the Overseas and International List, which are not administered by the Cabinet Office.

Transparency data for the list by county, the level of award received and the service for which each recipient has been recognised for, as well as information on recipients recognised in previous honours lists is publicly available on gov.uk.

Honours are awarded on merit basis. A key aim of the honours system is to ensure that it is more representative of the country as a whole and we will continue to encourage more nominations from every corner of the UK, including South Yorkshire, in future honours lists.

In the attachment, table 1 shows the total numbers of Initial Teacher Training (ITT) trainees aged 40 and above with course outcomes for the academic years 2020/21 to 2022/23 and for each secondary subject. The table also shows the number of such trainees who did not go on to teach in a state-funded school within 16 months of the end of the academic year.

Information on the outcomes of trainees in receipt of bursaries and/or scholarships is not readily available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

However, postgraduate salaried trainees are ineligible for bursaries and scholarships and the number of undergraduate fee-funded trainees over 40 who are eligible for bursaries is negligible.

In the attachment, table 2 shows, as a proportion of ITT trainees on postgraduate fee-funded ITT routes only, the number that were aged 40 and over and did not go on to teach in a state-funded school within 16 months of the end of the academic year. These proportions are applied to total bursary and scholarship spend, for each academic year and secondary subject. A small minority of trainees are ineligible for a bursary or scholarship, so this assumes that those over 40 who did not teach in a state-funded school within 16 months were as likely to be eligible for a bursary or scholarship as the overall trainee cohort in each year.

The length and structure of the school year in academies is a matter for the academy trust.

Non-statutory guidance is in place which sets out the expectation that all mainstream, state-funded schools, including academies, should deliver a minimum school week of 32.5 hours by September 2024. As with all government policies we will keep this approach under review.

The RSV vaccination programmes for pregnant women (to protect newborn babies) and older adults began in England on 1st September 2024. The national campaign is running year-round. It is not a seasonal programme.

UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) procure vaccines and manage UK buffer stocks for the RSV programmes. RSV vaccines are and will continue to remain available for primary care providers to order at any time throughout the year from UKHSA’s NHS facing vaccine ordering website.

While a small number of primary care providers experienced delays with rolling out the programmes from 1st September, there have been no major issues with distributing RSV vaccines from central supply stocks. UKHSA will continue to monitor vaccine distribution, to ensure supplies remain readily available to providers so they can deliver the programmes.

NHS England and the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) informed primary care practices on 24 June 2024 that respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccination would be included in the routine National Health Service-funded immunisations delivered as essential services under the GP Contract from 1 September 2024. The joint letter set out the availability and requirements for practices to order the vaccine through Immform from early August 2024. It made clear that practices are responsible for proactively inviting aged-based eligible patients for vaccination, and for providing the vaccine to eligible patients from 28 weeks of pregnancy, either opportunistically or on request. It was published and is available on the GOV.UK website, in an online only format. The UKHSA then made the RSV vaccine available for primary care practices to order through the Immform website, the usual site for ordering routine vaccine supplies, from 1 August 2024.

The South Yorkshire Integrated Care Board has had confirmation that all primary care practices in Sheffield have now ordered and received at least one delivery of respiratory syncytial virus vaccines.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccination programmes for pregnant women to protect newborns and adults aged between 75 and 79 years old began in England on 1 September 2024.

Supplies of RSV vaccines were available for all general practices (GPs) and maternity services in England to order, including those in the South Yorkshire Integrated Care Board area, from 1 August 2024, to allow pre-positioning of vaccine stock in the National Health Service in advance of the national programmes going live in September.

The South Yorkshire Integrated Care Board supported the national timelines and promoted the programmes extensively, with GPs and maternity services administering RSV vaccines to eligible groups from the 1 September. While a small number of GPs in Sheffield have experienced delays in starting the RSV programmes, all have now placed supply orders and are offering bookings for those who are eligible to get vaccinated.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccination programmes for pregnant women to protect newborns and adults aged between 75 and 79 years old began in England on 1 September 2024.

Supplies of RSV vaccines were available for all general practices (GPs) and maternity services in England to order, including those in the South Yorkshire Integrated Care Board area, from 1 August 2024, to allow pre-positioning of vaccine stock in the National Health Service in advance of the national programmes going live in September.

The South Yorkshire Integrated Care Board supported the national timelines and promoted the programmes extensively, with GPs and maternity services administering RSV vaccines to eligible groups from the 1 September. While a small number of GPs in Sheffield have experienced delays in starting the RSV programmes, all have now placed supply orders and are offering bookings for those who are eligible to get vaccinated.

The Chief Secretary to the Treasury has responded to The Rt. Hon. the Lord Blunkett.

In line with Cabinet Office guidance, HM Treasury aims to respond to ministerial correspondence from parliamentarians within 20 working days. Correspondence performance data is published within HM Treasury’s Annual Report and Accounts. The 2023-24 Report noted that 62% of replies to parliamentarians were answered within the timeframe.

The government is committed to ensuring high standards of financial inclusion across the financial services sector. It is important that all payment methods are accessible for those with disabilities, including those with visual impairments.

The Treasury has been engaging with UK Finance, the Financial Conduct Authority, the Royal National Institute of Blind People, and other Government departments on this matter. UK Finance will soon be assessing potential initiatives to encourage stakeholders to adopt common standards for point-of-sale terminals and drive improvements and adoption. The Government is closely monitoring progress in this important area.